We’re Not Taking the Summer Off

Summer might feel like a natural time to slow down for some—but in the K–12 market, we all know it’s one of the most strategic windows of the year. While schools focus on preparing for the year ahead, this is the time to realign, refine your approach, and position yourself to engage key decision-makers when it matters most. That’s why in this edition of Education Matters, we’re skipping the headlines and getting straight to strategy.

Let’s get to work.

What School Administrators Are Thinking About Right Now

From now through the summer, most school leaders are focused on two things: finalizing plans for the year ahead and ensuring their current investments are set up for success.

For education companies, this is the time to listen and learn. What challenges are schools still trying to solve? Where are there gaps in implementation, training, or support? What stories of impact can you gather now to inform future outreach and demonstrate long-term value?

Come fall, most districts won’t be actively buying—but they will be watching. Word-of-mouth, retention, and quality support will do more to shape next year’s decisions than any sales pitch.

Planning in a Shifting Landscape

We’re hearing it from all corners of the education market: nothing feels stable. Budgets are tightening. Staff turnover is reshaping priorities. And expectations around impact and ROI are higher than ever.

In uncertain times like these, the strongest strategies are the ones rooted in clarity —clarity that comes from listening to your audiences, understanding the shifting needs of the K–12 market, analyzing program performance, and aligning your communications with what decision-makers care about most.

That’s where MMS comes in. Whether you’re introducing a new product, relaunching a program, or refining your communications, we help education-focused organizations uncover the insights, positioning, and strategy needed to respond to changing conditions with purpose—not guesswork.

Read more: Navigating Uncertainty—How Education Companies Can Thrive in a Shifting K–12 Landscape

MMS in Action: A Strategic Partnership in Practice

Some of our most impactful work happens when we become more than just a vendor—we become part of our client’s extended team. That’s the case with Loyola Press, where an initial project-based relationship has grown into a long-term strategic partnership.

We started our relationship with MMS on a case-by-case basis, but it quickly became obvious we weren’t fully leveraging our relationship. Our retainer is going on year three and it paid for itself immediately. As a key part of our brain trust, they built a deep knowledge of our business model, our market, and our internal workings which has made our recurring meetings one of the most impactful meetings of my month. I regularly bring ‘unsolvable’ problems and collectively we find a path forward through research, strategy, and creative tactics. Best of all, their seat at the table feeds their all-in commitment to our success – asking the right questions, challenging assumptions and connecting the dots in new and fresh ways. Having recurring access to their curious and brilliant minds, as well as their contagious energy, makes us all better at what we do.

—John Christensen, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Loyola Press

Your Fall Success Starts Now

MMS can help you build momentum and plan with purpose.
Schedule an introductory meeting with the experts at MMS Education.